by KYW's Mike Dunn
President Bush came to Philadelphia on Thursday to address a convention of conservative state lawmakers from around the country.
This is the second time in three years that Bush has addressed the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC. Spokesman Jorge Amselle says Bush was speaking at a breakfast session.
This group is made up of legislators from all 50 states. Amselle says it’s a conservative group but non-partisan, about two thirds of its members Republican and a third Democratic:
“We don’t get into the social issues, we mostly talk about fiscal policy.”
Liberal groups have criticized ALEC as merely a means by which large companies can push pro-industry legislation, a charge denied by the group’s spokesman.
The president’s appearance in Philadelphia brought out a vocal but civil group of protesters.
As officers from the Philadelphia Police Department's civil affairs unit watched closely, about 100 protesters chanted outside the Marriott Hotel for about two hours -- most calling for the president’s impeachment.
Brian Erlinger was among the demonstrators:
“I saw something on the Internet that he would be in town, and then I got an e-mail from somebody that I had signed up with some group, and they said come on down at 8 o'clock. So I took a vacation day and came down.”
Was it worth it for him to burn a vacation day?
"Absolutely."
As the protesters chanted, open-air tour buses drove by and tourists snapped pictures.
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